Boston, Mass. (WGR Sports Radio 550/WBEN) - Facing the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on Saturday night, the Buffalo Sabres dropped to 0-2-0 on the season following a 3-1 defeat.
The lone moral victory for Buffalo was the team finally potting its first goal of the season, though it came five-and-a-half periods into the season.
It was all Bruins in the opening 20 minutes of play.
While boasting a 14-to-1 shot advantage, Boston finally solved Alex Lyon. It was noted Sabres killer Pavel Zacha, whose one-timer found twine to make it 1-0, Bruins.
Boston added to its lead halfway through the second period.
A slap-shot from forward Mark Kastelic deflected high off of Sabres defenseman Conor Timmins, and the change of direction allowed the puck to leak in under the legs of Lyon.
At long last, about halfway through the third period, Buffalo finally scored its first goal of the season.
It took 109:46 of game time between Thursday night's loss and Saturday evening, but winger Jason Zucker trimmed the deficit in half with his goal against netminder Jeremy Swayman.
The Sabres were unable to muster up an equalizer in the dying moments of the game.
Then with Lyon pulled for a 6-on-5 advantage in the late goings, forward Sean Kuraly was the beneficiary of a turnover down the other end of the ice. In the final seconds, Tage Thompson fanned on a shot attempt, lost his stick, and Kuraly and the Bruins stormed the other way to put an end to the contest.
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SCORING RECAP
First Period:
BUF: NONE
BOS: 15:48 - Pavel Zacha (1) (Jordan Harris, Andrew Peeke)
Second Period:
BUF: NONE
BOS: 10:21 - Mark Kastelic (1) (Charlie McAvoy)
Third Period:
BUF: 9:46 - Jason Zucker (1) (Mattis Samuelsson)
BOS: 19:57 - Sean Kuraly (1) ENG (Elias Lindholm, Mark Kastelic)
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Blue Star Home Services Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Jeremy Swayman - BOS
2.) Pavel Zacha - BOS
3.) Mark Kastelic - BOS
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What's Next:
The Sabres return home to start a three-game homestand, beginning with the Colorado Avalanche on Monday afternoon at KeyBank Center. Puck drop is set for 12:30 p.m. with Dan Dunleavy and Rob Ray on the call.